williams



Dec. 22,1925 I "1,566,568

R. WILLIAMS APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONCRETE SLABS File Dec. 1- 1924 :s sneak-sheet 1 gyjhrehfbr fPl IfiYflk/W:

' Dec. 22, 1925 1,566,568

'. R. WILLIAMS APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONCRETE SLABS Filed Dec. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 22, 1925- R. WILLIAMS APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONCRETE SLABS Filed Dec, 1. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec.- 22, 1925.

V R'ALPI-IWIIJLIZLMS. bemmmm r mm ng: I

' Appl-iatlomfiled December 1, 1924: Serial- Ne: 753 ;2629

To all concern-.2 Bfe ill:k11OWII.-tl1a,t .RALPH WILLIAMS a citizenof the COmmOnWealth o-f' Australia; and: resident. of Richmond; in E the Stateof Victoria,.. Commonwealth of Australia has invented. a. certain new: and useful Apparatusc fOli Forming Concrete Slabs; ofwhich the following is specification;

This i invention: refers: to apparatusv forforming concrete slabsand-the like 1 and has for itsl object to provide apparatus which will considerably facilitate the manufacture of slabs or: the-like,- and further-will produce a slab having unique. characteristics; it being an essentialcharacteristic of the 'invention, that all articles,- other thanpipes or cylinders; can-bemanufactured the'invention being more particularlydirected'to the manufacture of articles having plane, angular; or other surfaces on bodies applied in architecturalor other constructional purposes: Accordirigtothis invention I provide a rotatable element having-a1 plurality of tangentialsides-or" surfaces each of which" is of sufficient area-to carry a mould which is detachably affixed thereto: 1

' I support this-element centrally, one sup porting end consistingof a stub aX-le afiixed to a-hub membenformingpart'of the ele t ment such stub axlebeing supported" in" a 7 plummerblock of any desired type, the

other; side being supported by-means-ofa feeding'drum whichenters the elements for a length equal to the width of the element;

suchfeeding drum passing to the exterior of the machine and being. supported upon trunnions or other suitable members which willallow of the easy rotation of" the whole of the apparatuswith'as little friction as possible.

On one side of the rotatable element radial arms are arranged, the outer ends of which connect the outer frame work whilst the inner ends of the arms connect a flange on a feeding and supporting drum.

This feeding drum serves also to provide a positive means of feeding the cement to r the interior of the element such material be- .mouldg a dm; I

'.I- will now describe invention 'with" reference-to the accompanyingdrawings in? v j Figured is Ia: view in elevation showing the feedin'g side of the maeh-ine g v FigureQ is -a vi'ew' of 'the' reverse sides-jot fi- Y F igure I 1 Figure 3-is a iview as in ing; .constr 'iction of machinel F-lgureis-an endview of 'the machine? Fig-ure'5jkis a view ofthe feeding'drum."

Figure 6 I is a View in perspective of 3a Fi ure-7 1 a view s ow ng 'inetho'd 10f detachably fixing 'moulds" to machine." I

A c'CQrding -tQ-my invention, a multi-sided element is provided having sides. '5 which are-formed from angle'oryotlier iron bent to shape and on thefeedinggside 6v ofwhich doors or fiaps-7 areprovided being hingea-bly mounted as-at-18 to allow of their easy removal for inspection of the moulds within 1 the element orother purposes; p

Entering'the element at the 'feedingfside is a-drum9 provided witha-fiangef10to which arms 11 arei'fixed. to effectthenecessary rigidity required- 'by'the structure and also secured to these arms 11' are struts 12 which connect the flange-10"on'the'ldrumf The drum*9"projects" at the feedingisi'de of the. machine-as shown andis' supported by means-ofrollers 13 14 which are carried b'er17 carried on'legs' 18 whilstthe other side-"of, the element is formed of a boss. 19

fittedj with' a stub axle 20' passing into a bearing 2l","andcarrying the driving pulley 22 on' the outer endx'fthereo fi said driving.

. or tending to twist during the rotation of the machine. I V The feeding drum 9 Where it enters the rotatingelement is formed with a, plurality of openings 25 which are'adapted to deliver the cement and other material into the moulds 26 which are carried on each surface 5 of the element. The sides of the moulds 26 are bevelled as at 27' so as to enable them being neatly fittedabout the rotating element and these moulds are adapted to be slid into position by passing the top surface over Y or. T shaped. guides 28 which are secured to the framework of the element.

As soon as the moulds are in position the flaps 7 are closed and secured in position in any suitable way, the material being then fed into the drum 9 to be distributed over the entire surface of the rotating element.

In practice this central surface would be one continuous line of moulds so that the material, wouldbe delivered to each and formations and each angle is clearly'defined,.

the surface of the moulds being previously treated with zinc, sheet metal, or other suitable material to ensure a good, clean, surface to the finished article.

' It is submitted that forming slabs of cement by means of centrifugal force, is a considerable advance in the manufacture of 7 units or integers adapted foruse in building various shaped structures, and, further, the formation of an arch on each slab considerably strengthens the whole mass and it is thought that the use of a slab so formed would be highly advantageous-in the construction of roadways and pavements or in other places subjected to various weights and conditions.

- Any suitable means maybe employed for feeding the material from a suitable mixing department to the feeding drum 9 such. as,

for instance, a hopper in communication with a conveyor which would enter the mouth of the feeding drum and deliver thereto, at predetermined periods or continuously, a supply of cement or other material. 1

I do not wish to limit myself to any particular shape of element as I may use a circular element, if necessary, and have the moulds around the inner surface thereof, and it is desired to be'understood that other various modificationsand improvements may be embodied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

'What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Apparatus for forming concrete slabs and the like for architectural and constructional purposes, comprising, a rotatable hollow element, a plate on one end of the element, a boss and stub axle carried by the plate, a bearing and support for the axle, a drive pulley on the axle, a plurality of hinged doors on the other end of the element permitting free access to the interior of the element, a feed drum disposed in the element and having one end projecting outside the element, a flange on the drum, rollers supporting the projecting end of the drum, re-- inforcing means interconnecting the flange and the element, angular flanges in the element, a plurality of moulds formed to be positioned on the inner surface of the element and held in position by the angular flanges, and a plurality offeedop-enings in that part of the drum which is within the cylinder for permitting feed of material by centrifugal force, from the drum to the moulds carried by the element. I s a 2. An apparatus for moulding concrete slabs, comprising, a rotatable hollow shell, an axle and drive means at one .end of the shell, a drum in, and projecting from the other end of, the shell, holding flanges in the shell, a plurality of moulds formed to be held on the inner surface of the shell by the flanges, roller supports for the-projecting end of the drum and slots in that part of the drum which is within the shell for permitting feed of material from the drum to the moulds within the shell, by means of centrifugal force.

Signed at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia,

this 31st day of October 1924.

, RALPH WILLIAMS. 

